Best Populist With Steve & Kirk Podcasts (2025)

1
Did Liberal Feminism Ruin the Workplace? 1:01:46

5d ago1:01:46

1:01:46

Is society too feminine or not feminine enough? Two conservative writers, Helen Andrews and Leah Libresco Sargeant, disagree on the answer. They join Ross Douthat to debate whether the feminization of institutions led to wokeism and a greater divide between men and women. 01:33 “Wokeness is distinctively feminine.” 06:17 - Has liberal feminism fail…

1
Mamdani’s Victory Is Less Significant Than You Think 4:34

6d ago4:34

4:34

Does Zohran Mamdani’s win mean a new dawn for the Democratic Party? Not exactly, Ross Douthat argues. In this mini-episode of “Interesting Times,” Ross explains that the New York mayor’s office has historically been a “springboard to nowhere,” rather than a precursor for national politics. (A full transcript of this episode is available on the Time…

1
What Palantir Sees 58:14

12d ago58:14

58:14

Who’s afraid of Palantir? The company’s chief technology officer, Shyam Sankar, joins Ross Douthat for a conversation about what the shadowy company actually does — and the thorny political and ethical questions it faces. They also discuss the new era of collaboration between Silicon Valley and the military, a personal project for Sankar, who was r…

1
Taylor Swift’s Trad Turn 4:20

13d ago4:20

4:20

Is Taylor Swift’s “The Life of a Showgirl” the soundtrack for the Trump era? Self-titled “conservative dad” Ross Douthat thinks so, and explains why in this mini-episode of “Interesting Times. Thoughts? Email us at [email protected]. Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel, Interesting Times with Ross Douthat. Subscribe today at nytimes.…

1
The Next Economic Bubble Is Here 53:24

19d ago53:24

53:24

Is the artificial intelligence revolution keeping the entire economy afloat? This week on “Interesting Times,” Ross talks with Jason Furman, an economist from the Harvard Kennedy School and a contributing writer for Times Opinion, about how investors, policymakers and consumers should think about the boom — and potential bust — of the fastest growi…

1
Amy Coney Barrett Is Looking Beyond the Trump Era 1:04:19

26d ago1:04:19

1:04:19

Justice Amy Coney Barrett is playing the long game. In this week’s “Interesting Times,” she walks us through the current court’s most controversial rulings, why she believes that her originalist interpretations are resistant to ideological pressures and why she’s not comfortable thinking of herself as a cultural icon. 02:19 - Balancing the personal…

1
He Believes America Should Be a Theocracy. He Says His Influence Is Growing. 1:14:36

1M ago1:14:36

1:14:36

Evangelical pastor and self-proclaimed Christian nationalist Doug Wilson has been preaching for decades that America needs to reclaim its Puritan past. But in 2025, he believes he’s “significantly” more influential. Does that mean America is closer to Wilson’s goal of theocracy? In this episode, nothing is off limits — even Ross’s own salvation. 01…

1
Hasan Piker Is Flirting With the Revolution 1:13:02

1M ago1:13:02

1:13:02

The Twitch and YouTube star Hasan Piker understands what pushes people to commit acts of political violence. But does that understanding tip over into appreciation? In this episode of “Interesting Times,” Ross Douthat and Piker debate why Piker’s post-liberal rhetoric attracts criticism from the right (and results in the occasional platform suspens…

1
The Grand Strategy Behind Trump’s Crackdown on Academia 59:01

2M ago59:01

59:01

What is wrong with higher education in America? According to many on the right, a lot. This week, Ross Douthat talks to May Mailman, the lawyer behind President Trump’s battles with Harvard and Columbia, about the administration’s assault on the Ivy League and why “a glorification of victimhood” is changing the relationship between universities and…

1
Ezra Klein Is Worried — but Not About a Radicalized Left 47:53

2M ago47:53

47:53

Ezra Klein argues that the left desperately needs a unifying project — for its own survival and for the sake of the country. In this episode of Ross Douthat’s “Interesting Times,” Ross and Ezra assess the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s assassination and debate whether the left has taken a dark turn. 00:25 How liberalism became “uncertain and exhausted…

1
I was set to interview Charlie Kirk. Then he was assassinated. 8:23

2M ago8:23

8:23

In moments of political shock and horror, where can we turn? Ross was supposed to interview Charlie Kirk next month for the show and now offers his reflections on Kirk, his political movement and his assassination. (A full transcript of this episode is available on the Times website.) Thoughts? Email us at [email protected]. Please subsc…

1
Does the Future Belong to China? 1:05:17

2M ago1:05:17

1:05:17

Is the United States still a worthy opponent for China? In this episode, Ross Douthat talks to Dan Wang, the author of “Breakneck: China’s Quest to Engineer the Future,” about the alarming speed at which China is able to build and could blow America out of the water. 01:44 - “A life full of ease and beauty” 05:30 - Rule by engineers 11:00 - China’s…

1
The MAGA Woman Dress Code 20:08

3M ago20:08

20:08

While “Interesting Times” is on vacation, we’re sharing a conversation from “The Opinions” between Meher Ahmad, an editor for Times Opinion, and the Opinion writer Jessica Grose. They talk about the aesthetics of MAGA women — think Kristi Noem and Nancy Mace — and what they signal about femininity and power within the Republican Party. Thoughts? Em…

1
Ross and Ezra Klein Discuss Trump, Mysticism and Psychedelics 1:36:12

3M ago1:36:12

1:36:12

This week, we’re sharing a great conversation Ross had on “The Ezra Klein Show” this past spring. Ezra asks Ross about his most recent book, “Believe: Why Everyone Should Be Religious.” But along the way, they debate not just how religion influences the Trump administration but also their own lives. Come for their seeking and stay for their thought…

1
Abolish the Senate. End the Electoral College. Pack the Court. 55:37

3M ago55:37

55:37

For Democrats, President Trump’s victories have revealed the antidemocratic flaws at the core of our government. But could it be an opening for a constitutional revolution as the party searches for its next leader? This week, Ross explores what that revolution would entail with Osita Nwanevu, the author of the book, “The Right of the People: Democr…

1
The Next Parenting Trend Starts Before Conception 1:03:05

3M ago1:03:05

1:03:05

Would you use an algorithm to select your embryos? Enter Orchid, a company that promises parents the ability to protect their future children through genetic testing for embryos before pregnancy. The founder, Noor Siddiqui, and Ross debate the scientific, moral and ethical implications of designing a “healthy” child and what we lose in separating r…

1
The DOGE Alum Asking if Foreign Aid Is America’s Problem 47:33

3M ago47:33

47:33

Does America have a moral obligation to the world? The former Department of Government Efficiency staffer Jeremy Lewin, now deputy administrator for the United States Agency for International Development, explains how he is implementing President Trump’s foreign aid philosophy and what it means for humanitarian assistance going forward. 01:59 - Fro…

1
What if the Government Believes in U.F.O.s More Than You Do? 59:41

4M ago59:41

59:41

U.F.O.s, fairies and abductions! This week, Ross talks to Diana Walsh Pasulka, a professor of religious studies, about how a deep dive into Catholic archives led her down a path to unravel the connections between religion, extraterrestrial encounters and government secrecy. 01:53 - How Pasulka’s religious studies led to the U.F.O. debate 06:08 - Mo…

1
She Exposed Epstein, and Shares MAGA’s Anger 58:38

4M ago58:38

58:38

Julie K. Brown thinks Jeffrey Epstein didn’t act alone. On this episode of “Interesting Times,” Ross talks to Brown, the investigative reporter whose work ultimately led to Epstein’s re-arrest, about what the government could release that it hasn’t and how the story is bigger than Epstein. 2:32 - Brown's initial interest in the Epstein case 5:26 - …

1
Is ‘Toxic Empathy’ Pulling Christians to the Left? 1:03:37

4M ago1:03:37

1:03:37

The conservative Christian podcaster Allie Beth Stuckey joins Ross on “Interesting Times” this week to explain why “toxic empathy” has a stranglehold on politics, whether evangelical Christians have a red line President Trump could cross and why her commentary has echoes of Phyllis Schlafly. 01:26 “The New Phyllis Schlafly” 9:46 Untangling the web …

1
Israel’s Moral Balance Beam 46:07

4M ago46:07

46:07

How has the war in Gaza reverberated throughout American politics? Opinion columnist Bret Stephens and Ross Douthat debate the implications of the Israel-Gaza conflict on antisemitism, the morality of war, and why “Monday morning quarterbacking” is not productive when taking stock of military actions in the Middle East. 01:56 Israel actions in Gaza…

1
Why Trump’s Blood-and-Guts Strategy Worked 55:30

4M ago55:30

55:30

Happy Independence Day! We’ll be back next week with a new episode, but today we’re sharing the episode that started us on the path to “Interesting Times.” Ross Douthat talks to Reihan Salam, the president of the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research. Together they wrote the book “Grand New Party: How Republicans Can Win the Working Class and Sav…

1
A Mind-Bending Conversation with Peter Thiel 1:00:23

5M ago1:00:23

1:00:23

The billionaire Peter Thiel is unimpressed with our pace of innovation. In this episode, he critiques artificial intelligence, longevity science and space travel — and warns that our lack of progress could lead to catastrophic outcomes, including the emergence of the Antichrist. 01:19 - What does stagnation mean in 2025? 06:30 - Peter Thiel's case …

1
The Progressive Regulator Winning Over the Populist Right 1:00:23

5M ago1:00:23

1:00:23

Is the key to freedom a life without Amazon? This week, Ross talks to Lina Khan, former Chair of the Federal Trade Commission about how unchecked corporate power has limited choice in our day-to-day lives, and how her fight against Big Tech unites left and right. 02:41 - What’s wrong with big business? 09:27 - The political costs of corporate conso…

1
Trump’s Future Depends on His Immigration Crackdown 43:16

5M ago43:16

43:16

Has immigration become the new litmus test for the Republican Party? In this episode, Ross talks to Matthew Continetti, the author of “The Right: The Hundred-Year War for American Conservatism,” about the party’s shifting coalition, the defining role of immigration and how today’s right echoes its past. 01:50 - What the Elon experiment (and fallout…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Populist With Steve & Kirk Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

1
PopuList

Steve Hoefer, Kirk Trutner

1
Interesting Times with Ross Douthat

New York Times Opinion

1
Did Liberal Feminism Ruin the Workplace? 1:01:46

1
Mamdani’s Victory Is Less Significant Than You Think 4:34

1
What Palantir Sees 58:14

1
Taylor Swift’s Trad Turn 4:20

1
The Next Economic Bubble Is Here 53:24

1
Amy Coney Barrett Is Looking Beyond the Trump Era 1:04:19

1
He Believes America Should Be a Theocracy. He Says His Influence Is Growing. 1:14:36

1
Hasan Piker Is Flirting With the Revolution 1:13:02

1
The Grand Strategy Behind Trump’s Crackdown on Academia 59:01

1
Ezra Klein Is Worried — but Not About a Radicalized Left 47:53

1
I was set to interview Charlie Kirk. Then he was assassinated. 8:23

1
Does the Future Belong to China? 1:05:17

1
The MAGA Woman Dress Code 20:08

1
Ross and Ezra Klein Discuss Trump, Mysticism and Psychedelics 1:36:12

1
Abolish the Senate. End the Electoral College. Pack the Court. 55:37

1
The Next Parenting Trend Starts Before Conception 1:03:05

1
The DOGE Alum Asking if Foreign Aid Is America’s Problem 47:33

1
What if the Government Believes in U.F.O.s More Than You Do? 59:41

1
She Exposed Epstein, and Shares MAGA’s Anger 58:38

1
Is ‘Toxic Empathy’ Pulling Christians to the Left? 1:03:37

1
Israel’s Moral Balance Beam 46:07

1
Why Trump’s Blood-and-Guts Strategy Worked 55:30

1
A Mind-Bending Conversation with Peter Thiel 1:00:23

1
The Progressive Regulator Winning Over the Populist Right 1:00:23

1
Trump’s Future Depends on His Immigration Crackdown 43:16

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